But when they are criticized, it has been justified. Finley has been sitting at 4 drops since what, week 3?

He's also has a measly 13 catches for 132 yards and 0 tds in the five games since week 3 as well, which is reason enough to be critical of him. Most of which have been games without Jennings so there should have been plenty of opportunities for him to put up some big numbers.

He's also has a measly 13 catches for 132 yards and 0 tds in the five games since week 3 as well, which is reason enough to be critical of him. Most of which have been games without Jennings so there should have been plenty of opportunities for him to put up some big numbers.

Not having Jennnigs, does not give Finley more opportunities, it makes it possible for the defense to cover him tighter because of not having to worry about Jennings. Finley is going to get the same amount of snaps. Jennings out gives another WR more oppourtunity.

He can't throw the ball to himself.

I'll go back through the game later this week, and pay attention to Finley to see the coverage on him, and if he is just being overlooked, or if it is coverage or just not getting open more that is causing fewer targets. It could be that Rodgers has been told that he was trying to force it to Finley to much.

I'll go back through the game later this week, and pay attention to Finley to see the coverage on him, and if he is just being overlooked, or if it is coverage or just not getting open more that is causing fewer targets.

Why wouldn't Rodgers overlook Finley? I wouldn't have a lot of faith in the guy to make a tough catch over the middle at this point. I would personally trust Jones and Cobb more. When a player fails to make many clutch plays, it's only natural for them to drop down the progression a little bit.

Why wouldn't Rodgers overlook Finley? I wouldn't have a lot of faith in the guy to make a tough catch over the middle at this point. I would personally trust Jones and Cobb more. When a player fails to make many clutch plays, it's only natural for them to drop down the progression a little bit.

Could it be, that Finley was having drops because he was getting targeted more, now that the targets have shifted, Cobb has as many drops as Finley.

Could it be, that Finley was having drops because he was getting targeted more, now that the targets have shifted, Cobb has as many drops as Finley.

I don't have time to dig through football stats at the moment. All I can say is I know Randall Cobb has been consistently producing recently and Finley hasn't contributed much. It's one thing to drop passes, but if one is still producing, it's not as big of a deal. But several drops in addition to a lack of production isn't good. I'd be looking for Randall Cobb before Finley, unquestionably (and Nelson, Jennings, and Jones). Unfortunately, I'm not the QB of the Packers, though. =/

EDIT: And constant talk to the media doesn't help his case, even if it's minor comments. Just shut up and keep practicing and playing hard.

I don't have much issue with Finley on the football field past his showboating nonsense over a rather routine play. He is helping the team through simply lining up.. if he can straighten out his drop issue (which apparently is almost flawless in practice, which probably is more mental than physical) all the better.

But he has to learn to either explain his points better or calm down and keep his emotions in check while talking to the press. Or stop talking so they don't nitpick them apart.

Yesterday it is the defense against the offense.. yada yada yada. I wish he would just calm down the talk in the press and let his actions show the way.

I firmly believe he has a fragile ego and needs to psych himself up in compensation.. let all this nonsense of chemistry go and just relax, play the game and catch the football.

I don't have time to dig through football stats at the moment. All I can say is I know Randall Cobb has been consistently producing recently and Finley hasn't contributed much. It's one thing to drop passes, but if one is still producing, it's not as big of a deal. But several drops in addition to a lack of production isn't good. I'd be looking for Randall Cobb before Finley, unquestionably (and Nelson, Jennings, and Jones). Unfortunately, I'm not the QB of the Packers, though. =/

EDIT: And constant talk to the media doesn't help his case, even if it's minor comments. Just shut up and keep practicing and playing hard.

Is it suprising that Finley has gone down in production, when Jennings has been out of games, when defenses can shift coverages to him? NO. Is is suprising that Cobb has increased? NO. It was expected. Much of Cobbs production comes from routes that get cleared by Finley pulling coverage away.

From my initial views of all the snaps, I'm not convinced they "fear" him. They cover him, yes, but I wouldn't call it fear. He's accounted for, and that helps, but his impact lately has not been monumental. I've got most of the games recorded, so I'll try to go back through if I have time, but at this point I'm not convinced. Finley hasn't gotten a lot of separation in some time now.

Is it suprising that Finley has gone down in production, when Jennings has been out of games, when defenses can shift coverages to him? NO. Is is suprising that Cobb has increased? NO. It was expected. Much of Cobbs production comes from routes that get cleared by Finley pulling coverage away.

If Finley can only be very productive with Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and James Jones are on the field, than that makes him an average tight end, imo. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Not all players are elite. But a truly great tight end will still produce. The rest of the Packers surrounding cast is still really good, including the guy throwing him the ball. There should be more room for Finley, but he simply doesn't get a lot of separation and has developed a pattern of untimely drops. It is what it is, but it's too bad he hasn't been able to consistently produced at the same level he showed earlier in his career.

The Packer's can easily make it by with just an average Finley, but not for long with that price tag. He's not getting paid like an average tight end, and the Packers aren't going to have much cash to spare.

As for his comments, it's not a matter of whether what he has ever said is right or wrong. I just don't like to hear that kind of stuff continually spoken to the media, especially given some of his previous comments. Keep it in house. Any statement he makes to the media isn't likely to help the on-field production, so what's the point? The risk vs. reward isn't worth it. If he was producing big time, I really wouldn't care what he said, within reason. But when a player isn't producing much, I really don't want to hear their opinions of their teammates performances. I'm sure others feel differently.

I think the biggest issue with Finley is many still view him or have feelings towards him as an elite tight end. He simply isn't, imo. Eventually, people will adjust their expectations, but it will likely be once he's no longer a member of the Packers. It's not a huge deal. The Packers have plenty of players that aren't "elite." There is certainly still a role for such players. For whatever reason, though, that perception lingers with Finley. Perhaps he'll be able to become an "elite" player at some point again, but I'm not overly optimistic about that.

EDIT: I know it's another pipe dream that would never happen, but I'd rather have Jared Cook Jr. of the Titans that recently requested a trade rather than Finley. He has played as good or better than Finley, and seems to have more upside at this point.

If Finley can only be very productive with Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and James Jones are on the field, than that makes him an average tight end, imo. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Not all players are elite. But a truly great tight end will still produce. The rest of the Packers surrounding cast is still really good, including the guy throwing him the ball. There should be more room for Finley, but he simply doesn't get a lot of separation and has developed a pattern of untimely drops. It is what it is, but it's too bad he hasn't been able to consistently produced at the same level he showed earlier in his career.

The Packer's can easily make it by with just an average Finley, but not for long with that price tag. He's not getting paid like an average tight end, and the Packers aren't going to have much cash to spare.

As for his comments, it's not a matter of whether what he has ever said is right or wrong. I just don't like to hear that kind of stuff continually spoken to the media, especially given some of his previous comments. Keep it in house. Any statement he makes to the media isn't likely to help the on-field production, so what's the point? The risk vs. reward isn't worth it. If he was producing big time, I really wouldn't care what he said, within reason. But when a player isn't producing much, I really don't want to hear their opinions of their teammates performances. I'm sure others feel differently.

Now his value vs his price is an issue that can be looked at, its the Drops, Besides a couple games early this year, he hasn't had a drop problem, and 1/2 of those I wouldnt' even consider drops, yet it is constantly talked about.

As for his comments, people, media mostly, WANT to make them into something so they have topics to talk about. When in reality, they are nothing.

Unfortunately, he is right about most of these things said. He isn't doing himself any favors saying these things though. He says he isn't pointing fingers but it sure seems like it to me and I'm not so sure how the media can twist those comments exactly.

Now his value vs his price is an issue that can be looked at, its the Drops, Besides a couple games early this year, he hasn't had a drop problem, and 1/2 of those I wouldnt' even consider drops, yet it is constantly talked about.

As for his comments, people, media mostly, WANT to make them into something so they have topics to talk about. When in reality, they are nothing.

I agree with everything but the comment about drops. Yes, a lot of his drops are kind of borderline where the pass was either behind him, or he needed to fight for the ball. The problem is that he doesn't have speed (anymore), he isn't great at blocking, and he isn't making the hard catches (and earlier in the year, the easy catches). On top of all of that, I think people don't like the fact that he tends to "showboat" (or get excited and dance a bit) after seemingly routine plays, oftentimes not too long after he drops a manageable one. He is who he is, Clay Matthews has that kind of attitude and showboats a fair amount, although Matthews is a completely different caliber of player.

I've given James Jones tons of crap for his drops in the past, however he's never been one to draw attention to himself (intentionally or otherwise) and he HAS dramatically improved with the dropsies this year in particular. Finley was outstanding before he got hurt, I really do feel for the guy and I don't think he WANTS to draw attention and drama to himself, but he does. Some of that is on him, a lot of that is on the media for wanting to make a story about nothing, but the fact of the matter is that he is playing like an utterly average first or second string TE and he is getting paid a lot more than he is worth. That in and of itself isn't bad, people are just going to be a lot harder on a guy when he goes from very good to average versus someone very average. Perceptions about his attitude, real or imagined don't help either.

Hell, maybe I should just straight-up calling for Finley's head. It turned Jones, the special teams, and Jarret Bush around, and I'd love to have Finley make me look like an asshole.

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